Method of gaming, a gaming system, and a gaming apparatus

ABSTRACT

A method of gaming comprising: providing a table game of the type where a player seeks to sink one or more balls of a set of balls in one or more pockets of the table by striking the balls with a cue ball in accordance with the rules of the table game; receiving a wager from a player additional to any amount required to play the table game, the wager entitling the player to receive at least one bonus associated with an event if the player achieves the event; and electronically monitoring play of the table game to determine whether the player achieves the event and the bonus should be awarded to the player.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of priority to AustralianProvisional Patent Application No. 2008900490, filed on Feb. 4, 2008,entitled “A METHOD OF GAMING, A GAMING SYSTEM AND A GAMING APPARATUS”,which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The invention relates to a method of gaming, a gaming system, and agaming apparatus.

BACKGROUND

Pool tables are used by players to play table games which have as theirobject, the sinking of balls in pockets of the pool table in accordancewith the rules of the game. Typically, players strike a cue ball with acue to attempt to cause a target ball to be sunk in one of the pockets.

Virtual pool table games are also known, where a player operateselectronic controls to attempt to strike and sink balls on a virtualrepresentation of a pool table.

There is a need to provide further enjoyment in relation to table games.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the invention provides a method of gaming including:

providing a table game of the type where a player seeks to sink one ormore balls of a set of balls in one or more pockets of the table bystriking the balls with a cue ball in accordance with the rules of thetable game;

receiving a wager from a player additional to any amount required toplay the table game, the wager entitling the player to receive at leastone bonus associated with an event if the player achieves the event; and

electronically monitoring play of the table game to determine whetherthe player achieves the event and the bonus should be awarded to theplayer.

In an embodiment, there are a plurality of bonuses associated withrespective ones of a plurality of different events.

In an embodiment, an event includes a plurality of sub-events.

In an embodiment, the method includes notifying each event to the playerprior to commencement of play of the table game.

In an embodiment, the method includes notifying each event to the playersubsequent to receipt of the wager.

In an embodiment, the method includes notifying the player of anopportunity to achieve an event and receiving the wager as a response tothe offer.

In an embodiment, different wager amounts entitle the player to play fordifferent bonuses.

In an embodiment, the table game is provided as a video game implementedby a game controller having an associated player interface including adisplay for displaying the table game and a game play mechanism operableby the player to make a wager and play the game.

In an embodiment, the table game is provided as a physical table, themethod further including providing a monitoring mechanism arranged tomonitor for the event, a game play mechanism operable by the player tomake a wager, and a game controller arranged to make the bonus award tothe player if the player achieves the event.

In an embodiment, the event is selected from the group including:

-   -   the order in which the balls are sunk into any of the pockets;    -   the order in which the balls are sunk into specific pockets;    -   the order in which a certain subset of the balls are sunk into        any pocket; and    -   the order in which a certain subset of balls are sunk into        specific pockets.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a gaming system including:

a player interface including a display and a game play mechanism;

a game controller arranged to:

-   -   conduct a table game and display the table game on the display,        the table game being of the type where a player seeks to sink        one or more balls of a set of balls in one or more pockets of        the table by striking the balls with a cue ball in accordance        with the rules of the table game by operating the game play        mechanism;    -   receive a wager from a player additional to any amount required        to play the table game, the wager entitling the player to        receive at least one bonus associated with an event if the        player achieves the event; and    -   monitor play of the table game to determine whether the player        achieves the event and the bonus should be awarded to the        player.

In an embodiment, the game controller includes a table game playimplementer arranged to implement play of the table game.

In an embodiment, the game controller includes an event monitor arrangedto monitor for the occurrence of an event.

In an embodiment, the game controller includes a bonus awarder arrangedto make an award to the player.

In an embodiment, there are a plurality of bonuses associated withrespective ones of a plurality of different events.

In an embodiment, an event includes a plurality of sub-events.

In an embodiment, the gaming system is arranged to notify each event tothe player prior to commencement of play of the table game.

In an embodiment, the gaming system is arranged to notify each event tothe player subsequent to receipt of the wager.

In an embodiment, the gaming system is arranged to notify the player ofan opportunity to achieve an event and receive the wager as a responseto the offer.

In an embodiment, different wager amounts entitle the player to play fordifferent bonuses.

In an embodiment, the event is selected from the group including:

-   -   the order in which the balls are sunk into any of the pockets;    -   the order in which the balls are sunk into specific pockets;    -   the order in which a certain subset of the balls are sunk into        any pocket; and    -   the order in which a certain subset of balls are sunk into        specific pockets.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a gaming apparatus including:

a table including a plurality of pockets, the table adapted for play ofa table game of the type where a player seeks to sink one or more ballsof a set of balls in one or more of the pockets by striking the ballswith a cue ball in accordance with the rules of the table game;

an game play mechanism operable by the player to make a wager additionalto any amount required to play the table game, the wager entitling theplayer to receive at least one bonus associated with an event if theplayer achieves the event; and

a monitoring mechanism arranged to electronically monitor play of thetable game to enable a determination of whether the player achieves theevent; and

a game controller arranged make the bonus award to the player if theplayer achieves the event.

In an embodiment, the monitoring mechanism is arranged to determine thepocket in which a ball is sunk and the identity of the sunk ball.

In an embodiment, the monitoring device includes a plurality ofidentification readers associated with respective ones of the pluralityof pockets and each ball carries identification data readable by theidentification readers.

In an embodiment, the identification readers are radio frequency (RF)readers adapted to read radio frequency identification (RFID) tagsembedded in the balls.

In an embodiment, there are a plurality of bonuses associated withrespective ones of a plurality of different events.

In an embodiment, an event includes a plurality of sub-events.

In an embodiment, the gaming apparatus is arranged to notify each eventto the player prior to commencement of play of the table game.

In an embodiment, the gaming apparatus is arranged to notify each eventto the player subsequent to receipt of the wager.

In an embodiment, the gaming apparatus is arranged to notify the playerof an opportunity to achieve an event and receive the wager as aresponse to the offer.

In an embodiment, different wager amounts entitle the player to play fordifferent bonuses.

In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a game controller for agaming system, the game controller arranged to:

-   -   conduct a table game and display the table game on the display,        the table game being of the type where a player seeks to sink        one or more balls of a set of balls in one or more pockets of        the table by striking the balls with a cue ball in accordance        with the rules of the table game by operating a game play        mechanism;    -   receive a wager from a player additional to any amount required        to play the table game, the wager entitling the player to        receive at least one bonus associated with an event if the        player achieves the event; and    -   monitor play of the table game to determine whether the player        achieves the event and the bonus should be awarded to the        player.

In a fifth aspect, the invention provides computer program code whichwhen executed implements the above method.

In a sixth aspect, the invention provides a computer readable mediumincluding the above computer program code.

In a seventh aspect, the invention provides a data signal includingcomputer program code which when executed implements the above method.

In an eighth aspect, the invention extends to transmitting computerprogram code which when executed implements the above method.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments are described in conjunction with the followingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the core components of a gaming system ofan electronic embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a stand alone gaming machine;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the functional components of a gamingmachine;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the functional components of a memory;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a network gaming system;

FIG. 6 is a further block diagram of the gaming system;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of an embodiment; and

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a physical embodiment.

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofcertain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understoodwhen read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose ofillustrating the invention, certain embodiments are shown in thedrawings. It should be understood, however, that the present inventionis not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in theattached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a gaming system and a gamingapparatus arranged to implement a table game where a player seeks tosink one or more balls of a set of balls in one or more pockets of thetable by striking the balls with a cue ball in accordance with the rulesof the table game. The gaming system and gaming apparatus allow a playerto make a wager in addition to any amount required to play the tablegame. The wager entitles the player to one or more bonuses if the playerachieves an event associated with the bonus. The concept can be extendedto more than one player. The table game may be, for example 8 Ball pool,9 ball pool or variants thereof. Common to such games is that a playeruses a cue to strike a cue ball in an attempt to sink a target ball inone of the pockets of the table. The rules as to which balls are validtarget balls at various stages of the game vary from game to game. Suchgames can be implemented electronically by displaying a virtual table ona video display and allowing the player to operate a virtual cue stick.

The balls used in such games vary from game to game. In one commonimplementation of 8 Ball pool, there is a white cue ball and 15 colouredballs each of which bears one of the numbers 1-15 such that each ball isindividually identifiable. The balls 1-7 are often known as “solids” asthey are entirely of one colour with the exception of an area around thenumber and the number itself. Each of balls 1-7 is also a differentcolour (but not black). The 8-Ball is black. Balls 8-15 are often knownas “stripes” because they are formed of a coloured portion that extendsaround an equatorial region of the ball and two white polar portions.Again balls 8-15 are individually coloured (often with the same coloursof balls 1-7). Typically, the table is rectangular and has 6 pocketswith 4 pockets at respective ones of the corners and 2 pocketspositioned midway along respective ones of the longer sides of thetables, however many other tables (whether physical or virtual) havebeen proposed which could be adapted for use in an embodiment, includinground tables, hexagonal tables, L-shaped tables etc.

The gaming apparatus has a physical table with a plurality of pocketsand associated electronic components implementing the game. The game canalso be implemented electronically as a gaming system.

Gaming Systems Exemplary Electronic Embodiments

The gaming system can take a number of different forms.

In a first form, a stand alone gaming machine is provided wherein all ormost components implementing the game are present in a player operablegaming machine.

In a second form, a distributed architecture is provided wherein some ofthe components implementing the game are present in a player operablegaming machine and some of the components implementing the game arelocated remotely relative to the gaming machine. For example, a “thickclient” architecture may be used wherein part of the game is executed ona player operable gaming machine and part of the game is executedremotely, such as by a gaming server; or a “thin client” architecturemay be used wherein most of the game is executed remotely such as by agaming server and a player operable gaming machine is used only todisplay audible and/or visible gaming information to the player andreceive gaming inputs from the player.

However, it will be understood that other arrangements are envisaged.For example, an architecture may be provided wherein a gaming machine isnetworked to a gaming server and the respective functions of the gamingmachine and the gaming server are selectively modifiable. For example,the gaming system may operate in stand alone gaming machine mode, “thickclient” mode or “thin client” mode depending on the game being played,operating conditions, and so on. Other variations will be apparent topersons skilled in the art.

Irrespective of the form, the gaming system includes several corecomponents. At the broadest level, the core components are a playerinterface 50 and a game controller 60 as illustrated in FIG. 1. Theplayer interface is arranged to enable interaction between a player andthe gaming system and for this purpose includes the input/outputcomponents for the player to enter instructions and play the game.

Components of the player interface may vary from embodiment toembodiment but will typically include a credit mechanism 52 to enable aplayer to input credits and receive payouts, one or more displays 54, agame play mechanism 56 including one or more input devices that enable aplayer to input game play instructions (e.g. to place a wager), and oneor more speakers 58. The display displays a virtual table having aplurality of pockets. The game play mechanism 56 is arranged to allow aplayer to play the table game—i.e. to input instructions—in particularto operate a virtual cue to align it to an intended shot and strike thecue ball in an attempt to strike one of the target balls and sink it ina pocket displayed on the display.

The game controller 60 is in data communication with the playerinterface and typically includes a processor 62 that processes the gameplay instructions in accordance with game play rules and outputs gameplay outcomes to the display. Typically, the game play instructions arestored as program code in a memory 64 but can also be hardwired. Hereinthe term “processor” is used to refer generically to any device that canprocess game play instructions in accordance with game play rules andmay include: a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logicdevice or other computational device, a general purpose computer (e.g. aPC) or a server.

A gaming system in the form of a stand alone gaming machine 10 isillustrated in FIG. 2. The gaming machine 10 includes a console 12having a display 14 on which are displayed representations of the game16—e.g., including an image of a pool table having a plurality ofpockets with balls placed according to the current state of the game. Amid-trim 20 of the gaming machine 10 houses a bank of buttons 22 forenabling a player to interact with the gaming machine, in particularduring game play to align the virtual cue and play virtual shots as wellas to place wagers. For example, one or more buttons may be operable toadjust the position of the cue stick relative to the cue ball and one ormore buttons may be operable to adjust the strength with which the cuestrikes the cue ball. The mid-trim 20 also houses a credit inputmechanism 24 which in this example includes a coin input chute 24A and abill collector 24B. Other credit input mechanisms may also be employed,for example, a card reader for reading a smart card, debit card orcredit card. A player marketing module (not shown) having a readingdevice may also be provided for the purpose of reading a player trackingdevice, for example as part of a loyalty program. The player trackingdevice may be in the form of a card, flash drive or any other portablestorage medium capable of being read by the reading device.

A top box 26 may carry artwork 28, including for example pay tables anddetails of bonus awards and other information or images relating to thegame. Further artwork and/or information may be provided on a frontpanel 29 of the console 12. A coin tray 30 is mounted beneath the frontpanel 29 for dispensing cash payouts from the gaming machine 10.

The display 14 shown in FIG. 2 is in the form of a video display unit,particularly a cathode ray tube screen device. Alternatively, thedisplay 14 may be a liquid crystal display, plasma screen or any othersuitable video display unit. The top box 26 may also include a display,for example a video display unit, which may be of the same type as thedisplay 14, or of a different type. The top box 26 may be used toadvertise the events achievable by the player.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of operative components of a typical gamingmachine which may be the same as or different to the gaming machine ofFIG. 2.

The gaming machine 100 includes a game controller 101 having a processor102. Instructions and data to control operation of the processor 102 arestored in a memory 103, which is in data communication with theprocessor 102. Typically, the gaming machine 100 will include bothvolatile and non-volatile memory and more than one of each type ofmemory, with such memories being collectively represented by the memory103.

The gaming machine has hardware meters 104 for purposes includingensuring regulatory compliance and monitoring player credit, aninput/output (I/O) interface 105 for communicating with peripheraldevices of the gaming machine 100. The input/output interface 105 and/orthe peripheral devices may be intelligent devices with their own memoryfor storing associated instructions and data for use with theinput/output interface or the peripheral devices. A random numbergenerator module 113 generates random numbers for use by the processor102. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the reference torandom numbers includes pseudo-random numbers.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, a player interface 120 includesperipheral devices that communicate with the game controller 101 includeone or more displays 106, input devices in the form of a touch screenand/or buttons 107, a card and/or ticket reader 108, a printer 109, abill acceptor and/or coin input mechanism 110 and a coin outputmechanism 111. Additional hardware may be included as part of the gamingmachine 100, or hardware may be omitted based on the specificimplementation. For example, alternative or additional input devicesenabling the player to input instructions may be included such as a joystick controller for adjusting the cue position.

In addition, the gaming machine 100 may include a communicationsinterface, for example a network card 112. The network card may, forexample, send status information, accounting information or otherinformation to a central controller, server or database and receive dataor commands from the central controller, server or database.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the main components of an exemplarymemory 103. The memory 103 includes RAM 103A, EPROM 103B and a massstorage device 103C. The RAM 103A typically temporarily holds programfiles for execution by the processor 102 and related data. The EPROM103B may be a boot ROM device and/or may contain some system or gamerelated code. The mass storage device 103C is typically used to storegame programs, the integrity of which may be verified and/orauthenticated by the processor 102 using protected code from the EPROM103B or elsewhere.

It is also possible for the operative components of the gaming machine100 to be distributed, for example input/output devices 106, 107, 108,109, 110, 111 to be provided remotely from the game controller 101.

FIG. 5 shows a gaming system 200 in accordance with an alternativeembodiment. The gaming system 200 includes a network 201, which forexample may be an Ethernet network. Gaming machines 202, shown arrangedin three banks 203 of two gaming machines 202 in FIG. 5, are connectedto the network 201. The gaming machines 202 provide a player operableinterface and may be the same as the gaming machines 10, 100 shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, or may have simplified functionality depending on therules and/or guidelines for implementing game play. While banks 203 oftwo gaming machines are illustrated in FIG. 5, banks of one, three ormore gaming machines are also envisaged.

One or more displays 204 may also be connected to the network 201. Forexample, the displays 204 may be associated with one or more banks 203of gaming machines. The displays 204 may be used to displayrepresentations associated with game play on the gaming machines 202,and/or used to display other representations, for example promotional orinformational material.

In a thick client embodiment, game server 205 implements part of thegame played by a player using a gaming machine 202 and the gamingmachine 202 implements part of the game. With this embodiment, as boththe game server and the gaming device implement part of the game, theycollectively provide a game controller. A database management server 206may manage storage of game programs and associated data for downloadingor access by the gaming devices 202 in a database 206A. Typically, ifthe gaming system enables players to participate in a Jackpot game, aJackpot server 207 will be provided to perform accounting functions forthe Jackpot game. A loyalty program server 212 may also be provided.

In a thin client embodiment, game server 205 implements most or all ofthe game played by a player using a gaming machine 202 and the gamingmachine 202 essentially provides only the player interface. With thisembodiment, the game server 205 provides the game controller. The gamingmachine will receive player instructions, pass these to the game serverwhich will process them and return game play outcomes to the gamingmachine for display. In a thin client embodiment, the gaming machinescould be computer terminals, e.g. PCs running software that provides aplayer interface operable using standard computer input and outputcomponents.

Servers are also typically provided to assist in the administration ofthe gaming network 200, including for example a gaming floor managementserver 208, and a licensing server 209 to monitor the use of licensesrelating to particular games. An administrator terminal 210 is providedto allow an administrator to run the network 201 and the devicesconnected to the network.

The gaming system 200 may communicate with other gaming systems, otherlocal networks, for example a corporate network, and/or a wide areanetwork such as the Internet, for example through a firewall 211.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in accordance with knowntechniques, functionality at the server side of the network may bedistributed over a plurality of different computers. For example,elements may be run as a single “engine” on one server or a separateserver may be provided. For example, the game server 205 could run arandom generator engine. Alternatively, a separate random numbergenerator server could be provided. Further, persons skilled in the artwill appreciate that a plurality of game servers could be provided torun different games or a single game server may run a plurality ofdifferent games based on the terminals.

FIG. 6 shows a gaming system in more detail. A player uses creditmechanism 52 to input credit. The player then operates game playmechanism 56 to pay an entry amount to play the table game, for exampleby pressing a button or touch screen. The entry amount causes the gamecontroller to activate the table game play implementer module 621, asoftware routine implemented by processor 62 on the basis of table gamerule data 641 stored in memory 64. The game controller 60 controlsdisplay 54 to inform the player that they may make a wager to beeligible for bonuses associated with the table game and the playeroperates game play mechanism 56 to make a wager. The game controller 60then activates event monitor module 622 which monitors for the eventsspecified by event data 642 in memory 64. That is, it monitors the gameplay implemented by table game play implementer module 621 to determinewhether an event is achieved by a player. If an event is achieved, thebonus awarder 623 operates to advise the player on display 54 that abonus award has been won. If the bonus is game credits, the bonusawarder 623 updates the meter data 643 to reflect the award.

Appropriate events may be designed to fit the table game in relation towhich the bonus is to be awarded. For example, the event may be:

-   -   the order in which the balls are sunk into any of the pockets;    -   the order in which the balls are sunk into specific pockets;    -   the order in which a certain subset of the balls are sunk into        any pocket; or    -   the order in which a certain subset of balls are sunk into        specific pockets.

It will be appreciated that an event may be composed of a number ofsub-events. Typically, the event is chosen so as to be outside thenormal rules, such that a player cannot achieve the event in normal playof the game. For example, an event where balls are sunk in order is notas suited to 9-Ball Pool where the normal game rules require the playerto shoot at numbered balls in order such that it is not unusual for theballs to be sunk in order. In an embodiment, all events are notified inadvance.

In another embodiment, in-game events may be notified during playinstead of or in addition to notifying designated events before play.For example, by nominating a designated ball and a designated pocket asan event prior to the player's turn. Such events may run contrary toevents advertised at the beginning of the table game, so that, forexample if a player achieves the in-game event they may no longer beable to achieve another event, however, the in-game event may be easierto achieve.

In addition to the above, the player may be entitled to certain “free”bonuses which are either made available irrespective of the wager amountor irrespective of whether a wager is made. Typically such bonuses willbe of a more minor nature. Different wagers may also entitle a player toplay to achieve different or more events.

In multi-player embodiments, each player will be able to place a wagerand the gaming controller arranged to nominate which player is to playon display 54.

Exemplary Method

The method 700 is summarised in FIG. 7. The player is notified 705 ofdesignated events that can be achieved. The player makes a wager 710 andbecomes entitled 715 to bonuses associated with the events.

The game then begins with the game controller 60 monitoring for eventsuntil it determines that the game is finished 720. If the embodimentprovides for in-game events, the game controller 60 determines 725whether to offer an in-game event: for example, based on a randomdetermination prior to each player turn. If an in-game event is offered,it is determined 730 whether it is achieved and if it is achieved abonus is awarded 735.

The game continues until it is determined 720 that the game hasfinished, whereafter it is determined 740 whether a pre-designated eventhas been achieved during the game. If an event has been achieved, thebonus is awarded 745 and the game ends 750.

Further features of the method will be apparent from the abovedescription of the gaming system. Persons skilled in the art will alsoappreciate that the method could be embodied in program code. Theprogram code could be supplied in a number of ways, for example on acomputer readable medium, such as a disc or a memory (for example, thatcould replace part of memory 103) or as a data signal (for example, bydownloading it from a server).

Gaming Apparatus Exemplary Physical Embodiment

As illustrated in FIG. 8, in a physical embodiment (although it will beappreciated that some components are implemented electronically), agaming apparatus 800 may be formed by replacing the player interface ofelectronic embodiments with an actual pool table 830 having a pluralityof pockets 835, a monitoring mechanism 820 which is able to determinewhich balls are pocketed in which pocket, and a terminal 810 having acredit mechanism 52A that may be any appropriate device for enteringcredits such as those exemplified above, and a wagering mechanism 56A,for example buttons or a touch screen interface or other appropriateinput device for making a wager. A modified gaming controller 60Aimplements the other requirements of the gaming apparatus.

In embodiments, where events are advertised in advance, it may besufficient to provide signage proximate to the gaming machine advisingplayers of the events. In other embodiments, display 54A is used tonotify the events to players in much the same way as in the electronicembodiment described above as well as to inform players that bonuseshave been awarded.

Accordingly, the game controller 60A may be implemented in a similarmanner to that described above in relation to a gaming machine, withmodifications to take into account what is in effect a different playerinterface. In particular, as shown in FIG. 8, the game controller 60A isonly required to track game play with game play tracker 823 based on thegame rule data 641A stored in memory 64A rather than implementing thegame as shown in FIG. 6. The game tracker 823 ensures that game rulesare being complied with and determines which player is currently playingin multi-player games, based on the game rules. The display 54A mayadvise the players whose turn it is.

In this embodiment, the monitoring mechanism includes a plurality ofradio frequency tag readers 820 adapted to read radio frequency tagsembedded in the balls which identify the balls. The tag readers 820communicate to the game controller 60 which balls have been read asbeing sunk is which pocket, whereby the event monitor 622A of the gamecontroller can determine whether an event has been achieved and awardbonuses as described above in relation to FIG. 6. In other embodiments,an alternate monitoring mechanism may be used, for example one or morecameras and associated image processing apparatus for resolving theidentity of the balls or by placing indicia such as barcodes on theballs which can read automatically by a bar code reader. Persons skilledin the art will appreciate that any appropriate device can be used forthe monitoring mechanism provided it can identify individual balls whichhave entered the pockets based on inherent characteristics of the balls(such as colour) or features added to the balls to enable them to beelectronically monitored and discriminated by some form of sensor(s)arranged in an electronic circuit in electrical/data communication withthe game controller 60A to communicate data identifying the balls suchthat the game controller 60A can apply the rules 641A.

Where bonuses are cash prizes, they can be paid out via the creditmechanism in a conventional manner or paid out by an attendant if theyexceed a certain amount. The terminal may also include a ticket printerarranged to print tickets having a face value which can be redeemed at acashier.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Extra Spend Bonuses at the End of the Game

Event Bonus 1. All pockets receive at least one ball Free Game 2. Ballssunk in the order of their number $100 3. All odd numbers sunk beforeeven numbers  $10

In this example players would know both the events and bonuses paidbefore deciding to spend more to qualify for the bonuses.

Example 2 Free Bonuses During the Game

Event Bonus 1. Sinking a nominated ball into any pocket Extra points 2.Sinking any ball into a specific pocket Extra points 3. Sinking in anominated ball and pocket Extra shot

In this example the player decides whether to go for the event in thehope of gaining an advantage over his opponent. It is also a meanswhereby players can play by themselves and be challenged by the table.

It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the inventionthat many modifications may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention. In particular, that further embodiments canbe formed by combining features from the above embodiments and examples.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred toherein, such reference does not constitute an admission that thepublication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, inAustralia or any other country.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of theinvention, except where the context indicates otherwise due to expresslanguage or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variationssuch as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e.to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude thepresence or addition of further features in various embodiments of theinvention.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerousvariations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown inthe specific embodiments and/or aspects without departing from thespirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The presentembodiments and aspects are, therefore, to be considered in all respectsas illustrative and not restrictive. Several embodiments are describedabove with reference to the drawings. These drawings illustrate certaindetails of specific embodiments that implement the systems and methodsand programs of the present invention. However, describing the inventionwith drawings should not be construed as imposing on the invention anylimitations associated with features shown in the drawings. The presentinvention contemplates methods, systems and program products on anyelectronic device and/or machine-readable media suitable foraccomplishing its operations. Certain embodiments of the presentinvention may be implemented using an existing computer processor and/orby a special purpose computer processor incorporated for this or anotherpurpose or by a hardwired system, for example.

Embodiments within the scope of the present invention include programproducts comprising machine-readable media for carrying or havingmachine-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Suchmachine-readable media can be any available media that can be accessedby a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with aprocessor. By way of example, such machine-readable media may compriseRAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, Flash, CD-ROM or other optical diskstorage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or anyother medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code inthe form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and whichcan be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer orother machine with a processor. When information is transferred orprovided over a network or another communications connection (eitherhardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless) to amachine, the machine properly views the connection as a machine-readablemedium. Thus, any such a connection is properly termed amachine-readable medium. Combinations of the above are also includedwithin the scope of machine-readable media. Machine-executableinstructions comprise, for example, instructions and data which cause ageneral purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purposeprocessing machines to perform a certain function or group of functions.

1. A method of gaming comprising: providing a table game of the typewhere a player seeks to sink one or more balls of a set of balls in oneor more pockets of the table by striking the balls with a cue ball inaccordance with the rules of the table game; receiving a wager from aplayer additional to any amount required to play the table game, thewager entitling the player to receive at least one bonus respectivelyassociated with at least one designated event; conducting the table gameduring which, and in response to receiving the wager, offering theplayer the chance to receive an alternative bonus associated with anin-game event, wherein if the player accepts the offer, the in-gameevent precludes the player from achieving the designated event; andelectronically monitoring play of the table game to determine whetherthe player achieves the designated event or the in-game event andthereby determining whether the respectively associated bonus should beawarded to the player.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein thereare a plurality of bonuses associated with respective ones of aplurality of different events.
 3. A method as claimed in claim 1,wherein an event comprises a plurality of sub-events.
 4. A method asclaimed in claim 1, comprising notifying each event to the player priorto commencement of play of the table game.
 5. A method as claimed inclaim 1, comprising notifying each event to the player subsequent toreceipt of the wager.
 6. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprisingnotifying the player of an opportunity to achieve an event and receivingthe wager as a response to the offer.
 7. A method as claimed in claim 2,wherein different wager amounts entitle the player to play for differentbonuses.
 8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the table game isprovided as a video game implemented by a game controller having anassociated player interface comprising a display for displaying thetable game and a game play mechanism operable by the player to make awager and play the game.
 9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein thetable game is provided as a physical table, the method furthercomprising providing a monitoring mechanism arranged to monitor for theevent, a game play mechanism operable by the player to make a wager, anda game controller arranged to make the bonus award to the player if theplayer achieves the event.
 10. A method as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe event is selected from the group comprising: the order in which theballs are sunk into any of the pockets; the order in which the balls aresunk into specific pockets; the order in which a certain subset of theballs are sunk into any pocket; and the order in which a certain subsetof balls are sunk into specific pockets.
 11. A gaming system comprising:a player interface comprising a display and a game play mechanism; agame controller arranged to: conduct a table game and display the tablegame on the display, the table game being of the type where a playerseeks to sink one or more balls of a set of balls in one or more pocketsof the table by striking the balls with a cue ball in accordance withthe rules of the table game by operating the game play mechanism;receive a wager from a player additional to any amount required to playthe table game, the wager entitling the player to receive at least onebonus respectively associated with at least one designated event;conduct the table game during which, and in response to receiving thewager, offer the player the chance to receive an alternative bonusassociated with an in-game event, wherein if the player accepts theoffer, the in-game event precludes the player from achieving thedesignated event; and monitor play of the table game to determinewhether the player achieves the designated event or the in-game eventand thereby determine whether the respectively associated bonus shouldbe awarded to the player.
 12. A gaming system as claimed in claim 11,wherein the game controller comprises a table game play implementerarranged to implement play of the table game.
 13. A gaming system asclaimed in claim 11, wherein the game controller comprises an eventmonitor arranged to monitor for the occurrence of an event.
 14. A gamingsystem as claimed in claim 11, wherein the game controller comprises abonus awarder arranged to make an award to the player.
 15. A gamingsystem as claimed in claim 11, wherein there are a plurality of bonusesassociated with respective ones of a plurality of different events. 16.A gaming system as claimed in claim 11, wherein an event comprises aplurality of sub-events.
 17. A gaming system as claimed in claim 11,arranged to notify each event to the player prior to commencement ofplay of the table game.
 18. A gaming system as claimed in claim 11,arranged to notify each event to the player subsequent to receipt of thewager.
 19. A gaming system as claimed in claim 11, arranged to notifythe player of an opportunity to achieve an event and receive the wageras a response to the offer.
 20. A gaming system as claimed in claim 15,wherein different wager amounts entitle the player to play for differentbonuses.
 21. A gaming system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the eventis selected from the group comprising: the order in which the balls aresunk into any of the pockets; the order in which the balls are sunk intospecific pockets; the order in which a certain subset of the balls aresunk into any pocket; and the order in which a certain subset of ballsare sunk into specific pockets.
 22. A gaming apparatus comprising: atable comprising a plurality of pockets, the table adapted for play of atable game of the type where a player seeks to sink one or more balls ofa set of balls in one or more of the pockets by striking the balls witha cue ball in accordance with the rules of the table game; an game playmechanism operable by the player to make a wager additional to anyamount required to play the table game, the wager entitling the playerto receive at least one bonus respectively associated with at least onedesignated event; an offering mechanism which, in response to receivingthe wager, is to offer the player the chance to receive an alternativebonus associated with an in-game event, wherein if the player acceptsthe offer, the in-game event precludes the player from achieving thedesignated event; a monitoring mechanism arranged to electronicallymonitor play of the table game to enable a determination of whether theplayer achieves the designated event or the in-game event; and a gamecontroller arranged make the bonus award to the player if the playerachieves the event.
 23. A gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 22,wherein the monitoring mechanism is arranged to determine the pocket inwhich a ball is sunk and the identity of the sunk ball.
 24. A gamingapparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein the monitoring mechanismcomprises a plurality of identification readers associated withrespective ones of the plurality of pockets and each ball carriesidentification data readable by the identification readers.
 25. A gamingapparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein the identification readers areRF readers adapted to read RFID tags embedded in the balls.
 26. A gamingapparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein there are a plurality ofbonuses associated with respective ones of a plurality of differentevents.
 27. A gaming apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein an eventcomprises a plurality of sub-events.
 28. A gaming apparatus as claimedin claim 22, arranged to notify each event to the player prior tocommencement of play of the table game.
 29. A gaming apparatus asclaimed in claim 22, arranged to notify each event to the playersubsequent to receipt of the wager.
 30. A gaming apparatus as claimed inclaim 22, arranged to notify the player of an opportunity to achieve anevent and receive the wager as a response to the offer.
 31. A gamingapparatus as claimed in claim 26, wherein different wager amountsentitle the player to play for different bonuses.
 32. A game controllerfor a gaming system, the game controller arranged to: conduct a tablegame and display the table game on the display, the table game being ofthe type where a player seeks to sink one or more balls of a set ofballs in one or more pockets of the table by striking the balls with acue ball in accordance with the rules of the table game by operating agame play mechanism; receive a wager from a player additional to anyamount required to play the table game, the wager entitling the playerto receive at least one bonus respectively associated with at least onedesignated event; offer the player the chance to receive an alternativebonus associated with an in-game event, wherein if the player acceptsthe offer, the in-game event precludes the player from achieving thedesignated event; and monitor play of the table game to determinewhether the player achieves the designated event or the in-game eventand thereby determine whether the respectively associated bonus shouldbe awarded to the player.
 33. A non-transitory computer readable mediumincluding computer program code which when executed implements a methodfor gaming comprising: providing a table game of the type where a playerseeks to sink one or more balls of a set of balls in one or more pocketsof the table by striking the balls with a cue ball in accordance withthe rules of the table game; receiving a wager from a player additionalto any amount required to play the table game, the wager entitling theplayer to receive at least one bonus respectively associated with atleast one designated event; conducting the table game during which, andin response to receiving the wager, offering the player the chance toreceive an alternative bonus associated with an in-game event, whereinif the player accepts the offer, the in-game event precludes the playerfrom achieving the designated event; and electronically monitoring playof the table game to determine whether the player achieves thedesignated event or the in-game event and thereby determine whether therespectively associated bonus should be awarded to the player.